newbobooks Chapter 190 Eavesdropping
Chapter 190 Eavesdropping
While the front hall was bustling with activity as people ate, the backyard was not peaceful either.
Several girls were peeking into the new house from the backyard window.
Leading the group were Xiao Chengyan's two younger sisters, Xiao Qianqian and Xiao Yirou. The two of them craned their necks to peek inside, trying to catch a glimpse of Qiao Qingshu.
Actually, all the sisters were present when the wedding ceremony was held in the front hall. They are just here to join in the fun.
Xiao Jiaojiao, the illegitimate daughter of the fourth wife, was somewhat afraid and kept looking around, afraid of being discovered.
She said timidly,
"Sisters, let's go. If the ladies find out, they'll definitely scold us."
Xiao Qianqian turned her head and glared at her fiercely.
"Nobody told you to follow. You came here on your own. If you don't want to watch, then leave!"
Xiao Jiaojiao was the illegitimate daughter of the fourth wife, born to a concubine. Xiao Qianqian looked down on her and was unwilling to play with her. It was Xiao Jiaojiao who came along on her own, eagerly waiting for her turn.
Upon hearing this, Xiao Jiaojiao pouted and lowered her head, feeling somewhat aggrieved. She didn't dare to say anything more, nor did she leave. Instead, she stood there huddled to the side.
At this moment, Xiao Yirou leaned closer and said,
"Qianqian, what's so interesting about this? She's all sitting in the bridal chamber by herself, it's just not fun at all."
Xiao Qianqian waved her hand and said,
"Third Brother, come back soon. Just you wait and see what happens."
The group of people were standing by the window in the backyard, trampling the roses in the flower bed and peering through the window.
At that moment, the main gate creaked open.
Xiao Qianqian excitedly tugged at Yi Rou's sleeve and whispered,
"Come and see! They're back! I wonder what mushy things those two said on their wedding night. If I overheard them, I'll make sure the whole household knows what shameless things they said in their room tomorrow."
Xiao Qianqian was willful and unrestrained, full of mischievous ideas, and had already devised many ways to deal with Qiao Qingshu, who had just married into the family.
Her plan to lie in wait here tonight is one of her little schemes.
Xiao Zhijie was so drunk that he was carried into the bridal chamber by several servants.
He was forced to drink a lot of alcohol today. Although he usually has a good tolerance for alcohol, he was still very drunk today.
He lay drunk on the carved bed, and several servants respectfully withdrew after putting him down.
Inside the room, red candles flickered, filling the room with fragrance, and Qiao Qingshu was still wearing her veil.
At this moment, he could only grope and push the man lying next to him.
"Hey, don't sleep yet, help me lift the veil."
Although he was quite drunk, Xiao Zhijie still managed to sit up with a jolt, reached out and pulled off the red veil embroidered with mandarin ducks.
Their eyes met, and in the candlelight, they looked deeply moved.
Qiao Qingshu's heart suddenly tightened. Although she had experienced romantic relationships in her previous life, she didn't know why she was still so nervous at this moment.
Xiao Zhijie stared at her with a smile in his eyes, and mumbled something indistinctly.
"gorgeous."
After saying that, he turned around and collapsed onto the bed, closing his eyes and remaining silent.
Qiao Qingshu clutched the red veil, turning her head to look at the man lying on the bed.
A pang of sadness flashed through her mind, and she sighed softly.
This spirited young man, less than half a month after his marriage, had to rush to the battlefield and then meet a heroic end.
He was so young, so full of youthful energy...
Having lived a second life, Qiao Qingshu still possessed the mindset of a woman in her thirties. Looking at the young man before her, she felt nothing but regret and heartache.
Besides, this boy had saved his life.
She wondered when her heart began to waver. If she stopped Xiao Zhijie from joining the army, would he stay?
"water..."
A weak cry came from the bed.
Qiao Qingshu immediately stepped forward, poured him a cup of tea, helped him up, and slowly fed him water.
The aroma of alcohol and tea mingled together, creating a mellow and fragrant sensation as it went down the throat, bringing some clarity to Xiao Zhijie's muddled mind.
He slowly opened his eyes again, and looked at the beautiful woman in front of him with a little embarrassment.
In his panic, he pushed the tea away and wrapped himself in the blanket.
Seeing his shy demeanor, Qiao Qingshu knew that the young man was timid. She skillfully got out of bed, blew out the candles, and went to bed to rest as well.
"That's it?"
Xiao Qianqian raised her eyebrows, looking utterly incredulous.
"The two of them didn't say anything, they just went to sleep?"
Xiao Qianqian was young and didn't understand anything about love between men and women. She thought that kissing, hugging and flirting between men and women was all there was to it.
Even these principles were things she figured out herself after secretly witnessing her brother Xiao Chengyan's interactions with the maids in the courtyard.
But now the two people in this room neither kissed, nor hugged, nor said sweet words to each other.
It was all for nothing that she hadn't even finished her drink and had waited so long by the back window.
Xiao Yirou advised her,
"Qianqian, let's go back first. If Mother finds out, she'll definitely scold us."
Xiao Jiaojiao, who had been hiding to the side without saying a word, nodded vigorously.
"Yes, if the First Madam finds out, we will all be punished."
Xiao Qianqian was a little angry, so she threw the rose she was holding on the ground and stomped on it twice.
"Hmph! This is utterly boring!"
After saying that, he was about to jump off the flower bed and leave.
Just then, Madam Xing appeared in front of the three of them with several maids, which frightened them so much that they stood frozen in place, not daring to move.
Madam Xing waved her hand coldly without saying a word, and the old women immediately stepped forward and pulled the three girls down.
Xiao Qianqian wanted to shout, but the old woman covered her mouth.
And so, without making a sound, they brought the three girls back to the courtyard of the main house.
Madam Xing reached out and pinched the tender flesh on the inside of Xiao Qianqian's arm, gritting her teeth as she spoke.
"No wonder I couldn't find you so late. Turns out you were eavesdropping! You're a young lady, how old are you? Aren't you ashamed?!"
After saying that, she twisted it again, and Xiao Qianqian screamed wildly.
"Mother, it hurts! Stop pinching me!"
Madam Xing, however, refused to let go.
"If I don't pinch you, how will you learn your lesson!"
Xiao Qianqian's miserable state was seen by Yi Rou and Jiao Jiao, but Yi Rou remained expressionless.
Jiaojiao was so frightened that her legs went weak. She trembled with fear. She was not a daughter of the main branch, so Madam Xing would not touch her, but she would definitely send her back to the fourth branch's courtyard. Madam Yan of the fourth branch was virtuous on the surface, but she had many tricks up her sleeve. Jiaojiao was born out of wedlock and was not favored by Madam Yan.
Thinking that she would definitely get a beating when she got back, Xiao Jiaojiao panicked and started crying.
The crying startled Xiao Qianqian, who frowned at her, thinking to herself, "I haven't even started crying yet, why are you crying first, you little hussy?"
Hearing the pitiful cries, Madam Xing stopped, waving her hand impatiently.
"Someone, take Jiao'er back to the fourth branch of the family first, and explain what just happened to them properly, so that they don't blame the first branch for detaining her later."